Comedian Adam Sandler confessed returning to the set of U.S. sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live was "heartbreaking" without his late pal Chris Farley. The funnyman was just one of the successful alumni who went back to the New York City studio on Sunday night (15Feb15) to celebrate the series' 40th anniversary, but the event was bittersweet for Sandler as he reminisced about his beloved co-star throughout the event.
Sandler tells Access Hollywood, "I was walking around (the studio) tonight and every nook and cranny in the place - my first thought went to Farley and how funny he was, and hanging out with him there. He owned the place. We loved him. His family is the greatest.
"No doubt, it breaks your heart when you're up there thinking of him."
The date coincided with what would have been Farley's 51st birthday. His brothers Kevin and John attended the star-studded telecast, during which Farley was remembered in the In Memoriam segment, and comedienne Melissa McCarthy recreated the funnyman's iconic motivational speaker Matt Foley.
Farley passed away in 1997 from a drug overdose.

Justin Timberlake teamed up with comedy pal Jimmy Fallon to launch the star-studded Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary special on U.S. TV on Sunday (15Feb15). Former SNL regular Dan Aykroyd urged viewers to "stay tuned" for the three-and-a-half hour show during the red carpet pre-show, insisting, "You're never gonna see TV like this again", and he wasn't wrong.
Timberlake kicked off the proceedings by interrupting his pal Fallon's opening song-and-dance number to join him for a rap number, referencing some of the show's most famous catchphrases and skits.
The two pals closed their i with a song-and-dance number, in which they named SNL's most famous comedians.
Sir Paul McCartney and Paul Simon then teamed up during a second monologue, during which Steve Martin fought to convince the starry audience that he was the best host - over Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy, Chris Rock and Miley Cyrus.
In among the medley of historical skits, dotted throughout the special, there were also updates of classic sketches, including a celebrity Jeopardy gameshow, featuring Jim Carrey as Matthew McConaughey, an updated Wayne's World, and spoof soap The Californians with Bradley Cooper as a pool boy, Kerry Washington as a doctor and Taylor Swift as a hippie actress, which ended with Cooper smooching Betty White.
Other highlights included Keith Richards introducing McCartney's rendition of Maybe I'm Amazed, Edward Norton, Melissa McCarthy and Emma Stone impersonating their favourite SNL characters, and Miley Cyrus covering Simon's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.
The oddest moment came when rapper Kanye West performed his hit Jesus Walks while lying on the floor, beneath an illuminated white sheet. West eventually stood and sang his new song Only One.
Star guests also included Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Jerry Seinfeld, James Franco and Michael Douglas and former SNL regulars Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase, Will Ferrell and Bill Murray.
The marathon special ended with a performance from Paul Simon, but there was no 'N Sync reunion, as had been rumoured earlier in the day.

Saturday Night Live is celebrating it's 40th anniversary this year and it's had some very memorable cast members (Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Adam Sandler to name a few) at studio 8H, and then there are some people who are very memorable actors, but we all sort of forgot their brief moments on the sketch comedy.
1. Robert Downey Jr. (85-86)
NBC/Yahoo
Robert Downey Jr. as suitcase boy, giving a "confrontational monologue"...it's not all that surprising he lasted only 1 season. But he's clearly moved on to bigger and better things.
2. Anthony Michael Hall (85-86)
NBC/Yahoo
To this day, Anthony Michael Hall still holds the title for youngest cast member on SNL, having joined when he was only 17-years-old in order to break his "geek" film typecast. He later admit he'd underestimated how competitive the show was.
3. Gilbert Gottfried (80-81)
NBC/YouTube
We thought it was impossible to forget that voice, but it was on SNL for a year.
4. Damon Wayans (85-86)
NBC/Yahoo
Wayans is best known for his time on In loving Color, it's easy to forget the year he spent at SNL.
5. Jenny Slate (09-10)
NBC/YouTube
You may or may not remember her time on SNL, as it wasn't that long ago, but you may remember someone dropping the F-bomb on live TV for the first time on this show. That was her.
6. Ben Stiller (1989)
NBC/Yahoo
His time as a featured player was brief, but this Weekend Update review of Rain Man with SNL legend Mike Meyers was a shining moment.
7. Billy Crystal (84-85)
NBC/YouTube
If you've been following SNL since the early days, you might not have forgotten about Billy Crystal and the many characters he portrayed in his 1-season run, but maybe you forgot the time he got Mr. T and Hulk Hogan to crack up on live TV.
8. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (82-85)
NBC/Yahoo
Maybe you're obsessed with Veep or still haven't gotten over Seinfeld, either way with such an extensive career, it's easy to forget Julia's early days on SNL (though she was the youngest woman ever cast at at 21-years-old).
9. Sarah Silverman (93-94)
NBC/YouTube
While there aren't many (if any) videos of Sarah's stint (she did mainyl write) on SNL 22 years ago, she does say she's happy that doesn't define her career.
10. Joan Cusack (85-86)
NBC/Yahoo
Her short time on SNL wasn't a bump in the road, but actually the spark that ignited her 30+ year career.
11. Rob Riggle (04-05)
NBC/Yahoo
You may not always recognize Rob Riggle by name, but you'll easily remember him from 21 Jump Street and Step Brothers. During his short time on SNL, he did impressions of Larry the Cable Guy, Toby Keith, and Howard Dean.
12. David Koechner (95-96)
NBC/Hulu
Before his Anchorman days, he became buddies with Will Ferrell when they were both cast members on this show.
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Musicians Blake Shelton and Vanilla Ice have been tapped to join the star-studded cast of Adam Sandler's new Netflix movie.
The funnyman signed on to star in four original movies shown exclusively on the Internet streaming service, and the first film, Ridiculous 6, puts a comedic spin on ensemble westerns such as The Magnificent Seven.
Sandler, who also co-wrote the script with frequent collaborator Tim Herlihy, will play a man who grew up as an orphan on a Native American reservation. Country star Shelton will make his film debut as legendary sheriff Wyatt Earp, while rapper-turned reality TV star Vanilla Ice has been cast as noted American author Mark Twain, according to TheWrap.com.
Nick Nolte, Luke Wilson, and Taylor Lautner are also set to star in the film, while Sandler movie regulars such as Rob Schneider, Steve Buscemi, Dan Aykroyd and Jon Lovitz will also make appearances.

Retired basketball icon Shaquille O'Neal is aiming to conquer the world of TV by becoming the star of his own sitcom. U.S. network executives at TruTV have ordered a pilot episode of the tentatively-titled Shaq Inc., which will be a workplace comedy based around his real-life business empire. The former sportsman, who has previously notched up acting credits in Adam Sandler films Grown Ups 2 and Blended, will also serve as an executive producer, along with TV veteran Mike Tollin.

A teenage actor who appeared in Adam Sandler's Grown Ups comedies has been arrested in California on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana. Nadji Jeter, who portrayed Andre McKenzie in Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2, was pulled over by police in Burbank on Saturday night (17Jan15).
The actor spent several hours in custody and was released on Sunday morning (18Jan15).

Mark Wahlberg's blockbuster Transformers: Age Of Extinction has been named among the "worst" films of the year after scoring seven nominations for the 2015 Golden Raspberry Awards. The fourth installment of Michael Bay's action franchise claimed the most nods ahead of the annual prizegiving, which celebrates the worst Hollywood films and performances.
Despite being named the highest-grossing film of 2014 with $1.1 billion earnings at the global box office, the latest Transformers movie is up for Worst Sequel, Worst Screenplay, Worst Screen Combo, Worst Director for Bay, Worst Supporting Actress for Nicola Peltz, and Worst Supporting Actor for Kelsey Grammer.
Transformers is also up for Worst Picture, going up against Kirk Cameron's Saving Christmas, Left Behind, The Legend of Hercules and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Saving Christmas and The Legend of Hercules trail Transformers with six nominations each. Cameron and Hercules star Kellan Lutz will face off in the Worst Actor category, along with Nicolas Cage (Left Behind), Seth MacFarlane (A Million Ways to Die in the West), and Razzie regular Adam Sandler (Blended).
Hercules' Gaia Weiss is up for the "dis-honour" of Worst Actress, against Drew Barrymore (Blended), Cameron Diaz (The Other Woman and Sex Tape), Melissa McCarthy (Tammy) and Charlize Theron (A Million Ways to Die in the West).
In addition, a new category has been added this year (14) - the Redeemer Award will be given to a superstar who has been awarded a Razzie in the past, but has since rebounded with critical success.
Among the inaugural group of nominees are Ben Affleck (Gone Girl), Jennifer Aniston (Cake), Mike Myers (Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon), Keanu Reeves (John Wick), and Kristen Stewart (Camp X-Ray).
The 2015 Golden Raspberry Awards will be handed out on 21 February (15), the night before the Academy Awards.

Actors Adam Sandler and Melissa Mccarthy were early winners at Wednesday's (07Jan15) 2015 People's Choice Awards. The funnyman picked up his impressive ninth trophy with the Favorite Comedic Actor award for his 2014 film Blended.
When he took the stage to accept the prize, Sandler said, "This (award) means a lot - I didn't have a chance to write an speech and I feel terrible... But to my wife, I love you and I hope tonight you show that (sic)."
Tammy star McCarthy walked away with the Favorite Comedic Movie Actress trophy, taking time to show gratitude to moviegoers for the fan-voted award, saying, "Thanks for the job because without you I wouldn't have a job - so I'm gonna stick around as long as you'll have me."
Another early prize went to Iggy Azalea, who won Favorite Hip-Hop Artist. The Australian is also scheduled to perform on the show.
The 41st annual People's Choice Awards are being hosted by Anna Faris and Allison Janney at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Actor Adam Sandler has topped the annual list of Hollywood's most overpaid actors for a second year in a row.
The Waterboy star only brings in $3.20 in profit for every dollar he is paid, according to the list compilers at Forbes magazine.
Coming in at number two is Johnny Depp, whose Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has grossed $3.7 billion at the global box office, but other films including The Lone Ranger and Dark Shadows have fared terribly forcing Depp's profits down to $4.10 for every dollar he is paid.
Ben Stiller, Ryan Reynolds and Tom Hanks round out the top five.

First film to score big at the box-office, "The Waterboy"; co-written with Herlihy and directed by Coraci

Played recurring role of Theo's pal Smitty on NBC's "The Cosby Show"

Starred in and co-wrote the comedy "Grown Ups," about five friends who reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend; film also starred Kevin James and former "Saturday Night Live" cast members Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider

Wrote, produced and voiced many of the characters in the animated feature "Adam Sandler's 8 Crazy Nights."

Played a Mossad agent who becomes a hair stylist in "You Don't Mess with the Zohan"; also wrote and produced

Moved to Manchester, NH at age six

Released first comedy album They're All Gonna Laugh at You!

Debuted as a stand-up comic at Boston's Stitches Comedy Club at age 17

Co-starred with fellow "Saturday Night Live" (NBC) alum Andy Samberg as father and son in "That's My Boy"

Served as executive producer on the Rob Schneider vehicle "The Animal"

Summary

Comedian, actor, writer and producer - as well as former "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) castmember - Adam Sandler was the man behind a genre of comedy blockbusters so closely associated with his formulaic wackiness that it eventually bore his name: "Adam Sandler movies. " At the center of hits like "Billy Madison" (1995) and "The Waterboy" (1998) were Sandler's character creations - hapless, moronic, outsiders entangled in absurdly improbable circumstances. But critics be damned, the adolescent-skewed offerings proved to be box office gold and their creator repeated his success with endless variations on the same formula - including producing similar films starring good friends David Spade and Rob Schneider - before eventually branching out into something more substantial. First parlaying his vulnerable dimwit persona into romantic comedies like "The Wedding Singer" (1998), Sandler began to show subtler, more human shades in other people's works including Paul Thomas Anderson's "Punch-Drunk Love" (2002), for which he earned a Golden Globe nomination, and James L. Brooks' "Spanglish" (2004). With his tried-and-true formula beginning to lose audiences to "smarter" comedies, Sandler teamed with Judd Apatow for "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" (2008) and "Funny People" (2009), which saw Sandler delving deeper into acting than ever before. The comedian continued his softer direction with "Grown Ups" (2010), a reunion picture with many of his "SNL" buddies. Adam Sandler's formula may have altered a bit through the years, but his heart stayed true to his particular brand of sweet-hearted, goofy comedy.

Name

Role

Comments

Margaret Ruden

Companion

Relationship began 1989; Were engaged to be married; No longer together

Met when she appeared as a waitress in his film "Big Daddy" (1999); Engaged 2002; Married June 21, 2003 in Malibu, CA

Education

Name

Manchester Central High School

New York University

Notes

"He's that funny guy we all knew in high school who was smart enough to make it look easy." – Sandler's classmate Kate Meyers quoted in Entertainment Weekly, Feb. 17, 1995

"My Uncle Murray explained why I don't drink. He said my bris was the first taste of wine I had, so when I got older, I thought everytime I had alcohol someone was going to stick my penis." – Sandler to Movieline magazine, March 1995

About trying to make "The Wedding Singer" a movie like 1983's "National Lampoon's Vacation": "I remember going to movies when I was growing up in the 80s and you'd leave that theater with your friends, laughing and having a good time and feeling good. And that's what we tried to do with this movie. There are moments when your heart hurts a little. But it makes you feel good about life." – Sandler quoted in USA Today, Feb. 13, 1998

"Sandler is [Jim] Carrey or Jerry Lewis without the physical dexterity, Danny Kaye without the verbal grace, Steve Martin without the patrician veneer. In the longer movie view, he's Abbott without Costello. What can we say? People want to laugh at anything. Sandler happens." – Richard Corliss writing in Time magazine, Nov. 23, 1998

"It's important I surround myself with people who make me happy." – Sandler quoted in the Chicago Sun-Times, Nov. 19, 1998

"You've seen his movies? That's the way he was here. I can't believe he's making all that money for things he was being punished for here. I thought he would grow up. Instead he grew rich." – Isabel Pellerin, Sandler's high school disciplinarian, quoted in People magazine, Nov. 30, 1998

"I like being a moron. My father called me a moron, my grandfather said I was a moron, and a lot of times when I'm driving, I hear I'm a moron." – Sandler quoted at a news conference to promote his movie "Click" in June 2006

I feel a huge sense of accomplishment doing drama. But I'd rather go to work and (break wind) in Hasselhoff's face." – Sandler on working with his co-star in "Click" (2006), quoted in USA Today, June 22, 2006